Integrated Biosurveillance

The Integrated Biosurveillance division serves as a central biosurveillance coordination unit to meet the needs of the Department of Defense (DoD) medical and public health components and leadership. The initial mission for this biosurveillance coordination unit was to identify and evaluate biosurveillance needs, synchronize biosurveillance efforts, and support decision makers by providing situational awareness of health events with potential impact on the DoD. The division is able to leverage other AFHSB resources such as the Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response network and the analytical capabilities of the Epidemiology and Analysis division.

Although the division embraces the “all-hazards” aspect of biosurveillance, most efforts are directed to monitoring the infectious diseases of humans. To accomplish this mission at full operating capability and address the global biosurveillance situational awareness needs within the DoD, the division has identified seven functional areas derived from key documents, including the 2013 U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense memo for implementation of the 2012 National Strategy for Biosurveillance, the Defense Health Agency Public Health Division Concept of Operations, the Health Affairs – Nuclear/Chemical/Biological Defense Program Memorandum of Understanding Operations Plan, and the AFHSB Strategic Plan:

Provide analysts dedicated to each Geographic Combatant Command (GCC) who will monitor the GCC’s Area of Operation, based on expanded criteria (including not only public health events of force health protection concern, but also events relevant to government coordinating council missions (e.g., theater security, regional stability, capacity building).

Reporting

Produce a weekly report for wide distribution that covers public health events relevant to the DoD, including health events among its personnel and high-profile public health events.

Produce more detailed government coordinating council–specific reports, depending on time and criteria requirements.

Use different formats (in addition to email) for communication, such as a CAC-controlled division website and the biosurveillance portal.

Provide more devoted attention to coordination efforts across the U.S. government.

Epidemiologic Investigation

Enhance coordination of epidemiologic investigations with the services and the U.S. government.

Currently, the division consists of the director, the deputy director, the director’s staff (includes a chief scientist, liaisons to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs office and National Center for Medical Intelligence, an American Association for the Advancement of Science fellow, a program manager, and a geographic information system mapping specialist), and two offices: the Office of Alert and Response Operations and the Office of Innovation and Evaluation, which also contains an epidemiologic investigations team.

This is a biosurveillance summary of H7N9: August 30, 2017, as reported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. As of 30 August 2017, there have been 1,788 (+4) cases of Avian Influenza A (H7N9) since the first two cases were reported in February 2013. Read more:

This is a biosurveillance summary of Zika Virus: August 16, 2017, as reported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. As of 16 August 2017, there have been 175 cases Zika virus in Military Health System beneficiaries since January 2016. Read more:

This is a biosurveillance summary of Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Surveillance #80: August 2, 2017, as reported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. As of 2 AUG, the total influenza A (H7N9) human case count since the fifth seasonal epidemic of H7N9 began on 1 OCT 2016 is 922 (+3) cases with at least 282 (+23) deaths.

This is a biosurveillance summary of Zika in the Americas as of July 12, 2017. As of 1300 on 12 JUL 2017, there have been 175 (+1) confirmed Zika virus (ZIKV) disease cases (see table) since the first case was reported in JAN 2016.

This is a biosurveillance summary of Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Surveillance #77: July 6, 2017, as reported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. As of 6 JUL, the total influenza A (H7N9) human case count since the fifth seasonal epidemic of H7N9 began on 1 OCT 2016 is 919 (+13) cases with at least 269 deaths. Read more:

This is a biosurveillance summary of Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Surveillance #77: June 21, 2017, as reported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. As of 21 JUN, the total influenza A (H7N9) human case count since the fifth seasonal epidemic of H7N9 began on 1 OCT 2016 is 906 (+17) cases with at least 269 (+30) deaths. Read more:

This is a biosurveillance summary of Zika in the Americas as of June 14, 2017. As of 1300 on 14 JUN 2017, there have been 174 confirmed Zika virus (ZIKV) disease cases (see table) since the first case was reported in JAN 2016.

This is a biosurveillance summary of Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Surveillance #77: June 7, 2017, as reported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. As of 7 JUN, the total influenza A (H7N9) human case count since the fifth seasonal epidemic of H7N9 began on 1 OCT 2016 is 889 (+20) cases with at least 239 (+1) deaths. Read more:

This is a biosurveillance summary of Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Surveillance #76: May 24, 2017, as reported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. As of 24 MAY, the total influenza A (H7N9) human case count since the fifth seasonal epidemic of H7N9 began on 1 OCT 2016 is 869 (+40) cases with at least 238 (+12) deaths. Read more:

This is a biosurveillance summary of Zika in the Americas as of May 14, 2017. As of 1300 on 17 MAY, there have been 174 (+1) confirmed Zika virus (ZIKV) disease cases (see table) since the first case was reported in JAN 2016.

This is a biosurveillance summary of Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Surveillance #75: May 10, 2017, as reported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. As of 10 MAY, the total influenza A (H7N9) human case count since the fifth seasonal epidemic of H7N9 began on 1 OCT 2016 is 829 (+46) cases with at least 226 (+13) deaths. Read more:

This is a biosurveillance summary of Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Surveillance #74: April 26, 2017, as reported by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. As of 26 APR, the total influenza A (H7N9) human case count since the fifth seasonal epidemic of H7N9 began on 1 OCT 2016 is 783 ( +53) cases with at least 213 (+5) deaths. Read more:

This is a biosurveillance summary of Zika in the Americas as of April 19, 2017. As of 1300 on 19 APR, there have been 173 (+2) confirmed Zika virus (ZIKV) disease cases (see table) since the first case was reported in JAN 2016.

The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Defense Health Agency of non-U.S. Government sites or the information, products, or services contained therein. Although the Defense Health Agency may or may not use these sites as additional distribution channels for Department of Defense information, it does not exercise editorial control over all of the information that you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this website.